9-year-old, 5-month-old boys die after boat sinks

ANDERSON COUNTY — An Easley woman is behind bars in Anderson after a Sunday boating accident on Lake Hartwell that killed two children.

Dawn Thompson

Dawn Thompson, 52, faces two counts of DUI with a water device resulting in death. She was denied bond during a hearing Monday and is being held at the Anderson County Detention Center.

DNR officials said Thompson was driving a boat that capsized and sank near Apple Island on Lake Hartwell at around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.

According to Anderson County deputy coroner Charlie Boseman, 9-year-old Christian Henderson was in cardiac arrest when a family member pulled him from the water. He was airlifted to a hospital, but died a short time later.

Boseman identified the other child killed as 5-month-old Timothy Blayne Dragoo.

A dive team found the infant’s body in about 20 feet of water shortly after midnight after an extensive search.

Department of Natural Resources Lt. D.J. Riley said at a news conference Monday that there were seven adults and five children on the boat — a 19-foot Hurricane deck boat — at the time of the accident, which happened just feet from a dock.

According to Riley, the boat’s passengers were not required by law to wear life jackets, although boats must have the safety devices onboard. Children 12 and under are required to wear life jackets on boats 16 feet long or shorter.